Da Windy City
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Chicago Blackhawks: Five best division rivals since 2009-10

By Vincent Parise

ST PAUL, MN - MAY 6: Zach Parise #11 of the Minnesota Wild scores a goal against Corey Crawford #50 of the Chicago Blackhawks during the third period in Game Three of the Second Round of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 6, 2014 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. The Wild defeated the Blackhawks 4-0. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
ST PAUL, MN - MAY 6: Zach Parise #11 of the Minnesota Wild scores a goal against Corey Crawford #50 of the Chicago Blackhawks during the third period in Game Three of the Second Round of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 6, 2014 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. The Wild defeated the Blackhawks 4-0. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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Chicago Blackhawks Patrick Kane
(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

3. player. 98. . LW. Minnesota Wild. Zach Parise

The Minnesota Wild were given an incredible boost when they signed both Zach Parise and Ryan Suter on July 4th, 2012. They immediately went from a team that kept barely missing the playoffs to a Stanley Cup Contender. Unfortunately for them, they kept running into the Chicago Blackhawks who were just a little bit better. Wild fans will always be left wondering what could have been if they just defeated Chicago one time.

Well, even though they couldn’t defeat the Hawks, Parise was a very good player for them. He went to the Wild fresh off an appearance in the Stanley Cup Final with the New Jersey Devils. Hashtag Parise watch began right when that series was over before he ultimately came to the Central Division and the Minnesota Wild.

Time has gone so fast to the point where Parise has already played more games with the Minnesota Wild (513) than he has with the New Jersey Devils (502). He has dealt with some injuries during his Wild career otherwise he would have even more games played. In those 513 games, he has 192 goals and 190 assists for 382 points. What makes Parise so dangerous is his play around the net.

He is one of, if not the best player in the league at deflecting pucks and scoring goals on the rebound. His body has taken abuse because of that fact and led to him playing in significantly fewer games than his peers. He seems to be healthy again now and ready to be well in his final few seasons.

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